Five Bar Gate is Grounded Research’s farmer research community, bringing together more than 2,000 farmers from across the UK to take part in paid commercial, environmental and policy research.
The community was created because we believed the people shaping the future of food and farming needed better ways to hear directly from the people living and working within the sector. Too often, research in agriculture relies on hard-to-reach audiences, generic sample sources or one-off engagement that misses the nuance of real farming businesses.
So we built a community designed specifically for the sector.
When farmers sign up to Five Bar Gate, we ask a simple question:
“What is the most important reason for joining?”
The answers are remarkably consistent.
Around half say the main reason is to ensure farmers are heard by decision makers.
Around a quarter join because they want to hear the results and understand what other farmers across the country are thinking and experiencing.
And around a quarter say fair payment for their time and expertise is the most important factor.
For us, those findings are incredibly important because they shape how we run the community.
We actively communicate research findings back to members. We explain the purpose and impact of projects wherever possible. We ensure farmers are paid fairly for the time, experience and knowledge they contribute. Most importantly, we create opportunities for farmers to contribute to conversations that directly affect their businesses, livelihoods and the future of the industry.
The result is better research.
Higher engagement, more thoughtful responses and deeper insight into the realities facing modern farming businesses.
At Grounded Research, our strapline is “market research for people who care.” Five Bar Gate reflects that approach. It is built on the belief that better decisions in food, farming and the environment start with listening properly to the people at the centre of them.